The final chapter of 'All's Fair in Love and War', hope you enjoy.
Epilogue: Revelations After the War
December 15, 10:00 A.M.
Nina's P.O.V.
"Train to Heathrow International arriving in two minutes."
With those words I felt a greater sense of joy then I had in almost two weeks, though now the thought of returning to America wasn't entirely appealing either after my disastrous exam week.
Ya, I probably failed all my semester final exams. I can't even tell my Gran I tried to study for them, though I probably will. If there is one thing I learned from this hellish year at this damn school it's that I'm a liar. In fact, everyone is a liar.
I thought back to my last two weeks of school, after I broke up Fabian. I remember walking out of Anubis house calmly, only considering my own thoughts and not the gawking and stunned gazes of all my former housemates. As I walked back to Odin house I actually felt like a massive amount of freedom had been restored to my life. I felt free not having to wonder what Fabian was doing and thinking, free from thinking about what a bunch of ex-roommates thoughts about my behavior, and free to make up my own mind about how I wanted to live the rest of my junior life. That last part was especially important since I had problems at Odin house that I had to fix, and it would all go easier without having to worry about what the people from Anubis thought of me.
When I returned to Odin I felt rejuvenated despite the cold outside. Debbie greeted me in her holiday flair and asked if I wanted to help her decorate the house, complaining about how exams were ruining student enthusiasm for the holiday spirit. I smiled and said I would help her, which caused her face to light up and her mood to reach an all new high. So we spent the rest of the afternoon actually bonding while decorating, laughing and talking about random stuff which was perfect for me since it gave my mind even more distance from my past troubles and of course my now future ones, namely studying for exams (which started Thursday in three days) and Michael.
But instead of trying to fix things like I thought I would be doing, I decided to blow off my problems. The next day I stayed home, claiming to be sick, and actually snuck out to town for a 'me day', a real Amber or Tori move. But I hadn't had a me day in… forever it seemed. Gran had also given me a ton of money that I hadn't spent this semester. I should have been nervous about the consequences of skipping school but just like my 'future problems' I didn't really care.
So while in town I picked out some nice clothing, a nice pair of earrings with a necklace, and a new hair look. My last stop before returning to Odin was to the local salon where I got rid of my natural curls for a straightened look. I looked good but I felt like I had to do something extra, something that really said I had changed. So I asked the people at the salon to cut my hair to my shoulders, which also looked good.
When I got back to Odin House school had been official dismissed, and when I stepped inside Debbie didn't say anything about me leaving. She instead brought up something that we discussed yesterday while decorating, acting like I had been at school all day. I'm growing quite fond of Debbie's ignorance and crazy demeanor, it's so much simpler than a lot of things happening at this school. A few minutes later Alan, Sophia, and Michael stepped into the foyer and saw me. They all were opened mouth at my new look and Debbie started talking to them before they could say anything to me. I just smiled at them and returned to my room. I started to study French a little bit, but stopped myself when I realized I only read one page in fifteen minutes.
The next morning I woke up early to prepare myself for returning to school. I knew people were bound to be talking about Fabian and mine's break up and I was determined to show them all that I was fine and actually doing better than I was with Fabian. When I looked in the bathroom mirror I realized I was in for a lot of makeup work. Five days of self pity and not taking care of myself had really ruined my looks. For the next half hour I fixed myself up and put on new make up from Tori's stuff that made me look radiating. When I went downstairs for our pop tarts breakfast the looks on all my housemates faces told me I had achieved my desired 'shock' effect. Michael and Tori even left the room before he finished his breakfast, but I acted like nothing was wrong and tired to converse pleasantly with my housemates. Nobody was really up for talking, but again I didn't care.
School was even more fun since everybody was stunned by my looks and according to some my 'shocking recovery after Fabian dumped me.' I was stunned that people thought Fabian broke up with me, but then again Fabian probably told them that so he could still seem like a big man. I enjoyed telling everybody how it happened and watching their facial expressions change from pity to shock.
The Anubis gang was speechless when they saw me, stopping their private group conversation in the corner to gawk at me. I gave them a curt nod and a pleasant 'hello' as I passed by. Fabian said nothing, trying to keep his expression calm but failing miserably. I laughed at him and continued walking. I noticed that Joy was actually included in their group now, which did surprise me, and that they all looked really sad. But they weren't really my friends anymore so it wasn't my problem to deal with.
As the day progressed I got quite good at handling myself. The glances from people I ignored, the 'I'm sorrys' I brushed off, and any classes I had with Michael or Fabian I acted pleasantly to both of them and pretended to focus on the reviews our teachers were giving for our finals. I was determined to show this school that I was fine and so far I thought I had been doing a good job at that. Then I learned why the Anubis people were so depressed.
Alfie had been expelled.
In an emergency student court, the council had named Alfie guilty for starting the downpour on opening night. I wanted to say the court was wrong but apparently Alfie actually confessed that he pulled the fire alarm. The council swiftly voted and declared that Alfie was to be suspended until further notice, but something had happened and they changed their mind. I guess they saw a chance to get rid of one of the school's worst students and public offenders and took it, going to distance and expelled him. Alfie wasn't even allowed back to Anubis house it sounded like and was sent straight home.
For some reason hearing this made me queasy and I left school early. I got back to Odin and did my ritual walk to my room without saying a word to anybody. I locked the door and after a minute I pulled out my phone, dialing Alfie's number. I wasn't surprised when there was no answer and I left a simple message to possibly my only friend Anubis.
"Alfie," I said, "I'm sorry that you were expelled. But I just wanted to say, thank you for what you did. You really helped me see things clearly."
I skipped the next day of school, knowing that we weren't doing anything anyways except for badly done last minute cramming. I helped Debbie finish decorating Odin House and when we finished I was surprised to by the finished result. Odin house looked truly festive and like… Home.
Charlotte was the first one home and she was taken aback by all the decorations. "Nina… you and Debbie did all of this?" she asked.
"Yep." I responded, actually happy with myself.
"It looks amazing!" Charlotte said, smiling softly. She actually looked really pretty when she was happy. She turned to me, still smiling, and said something shocking to me. "You're really just such a… a… a strong person Nina."
She ran up to our room, leaving me confused. 'Me? A Strong Person?' I thought, 'Do I really come off as that now? I think I'm broken, not solid.' That courage or strength wasn't there either when Michael arrived as I retreated to the kitchen with Debbie. Luckily Michael had as much 'strength' as me and retreated to his room.
Exams came and went. We only had to be in school for whenever our scheduled exams were so I spent a lot of time home at Odin and in town by myself. I saw Tori wondering around town too sometimes, looking pretty bad herself. She would sneer at me and walk off in the opposite direction, usually with some stud from town following right behind her. I would always feel bad when I saw Tori since I knew I was somewhat responsible for this new hooker Tori, but I also hated Tori for making me feel weak. 'You're supposed to be a strong person Nina!' A voice echoed in my head, 'You shouldn't let Tori bring you down.'
Sometimes I would be caught in a possibly awkward situation with either Michael or Fabian, but at this point I was really good at escaping from those types of situations. I still had something to say to Michael but I couldn't muster enough of that 'strength' of mine to say anything to him just yet.
Finally the day for foreign students to leave arrived and I was the first of those students to arrive at the circle for transport to the train station that would then take us to Heathrow International Airport and then back to our respective home countries. All the students who didn't have to travel international to get home left tomorrow, meaning I wouldn't have to deal with any Anubis members. That also meant that I would be stuck with Michael and Tori for a bit though.
Student began arriving when Mrs. Andrews arrived, her clipboard inn hand and a stern look on her face. Honestly, Mrs. Andrews is one of my favorite people at this damn school. Maybe she could write my college rec? I don't think I failed her exam that badly anyways.
Among the students with Mrs. Andrews was Tori. Guilt washed over me again and I tried to shut it out as she walked past me, sticking her nose up in disgust at my presence. I only hope back in Italy she didn't drink herself into death like she's been doing for the past two weeks. One thing both of us had in common though was that neither of us had friends to say goodbye.
Moments before we had to leave Michael arrived with Alan beside him. I saw them say goodbye to each other, which looked like an awkward conversation that surprisingly ended with seemingly a heartfelt hug between the two of them. Jealously brewed in me, Michael still had a friend, while I had none. 'Where's your strength Nina?' that same voice from earlier said in my head.
'Dead' I responded, 'Just like Fabina.'
We all left together and I made sure I was away from my other housemates. It wasn't too hard to do since I think they were trying to do the same thing with me. I knew I had to deal with both of them and I kept telling myself I had to do it before we got to the airport, but I couldn't find the courage. I laughed to myself as I thought about how I had also managed to disappoint Charlotte, my enemy from the beginning of the year, 'Guess I'm just not that strong of a person.' I thought.
So here I was now, now standing in line waiting to get on the train that would take me away from this horrible place with an ocean to separate me from it. Michael would be on the same side of that ocean, but at least we'll be in separate states. Tori would still be in an entirely different continent. I was first one on the train so I find a private compartment to settle into. Some other students opened the door into the compartment but quickly left when they saw that Nina Martin was inside of it. I didn't care though, I didn't really want to be around anybody right now.
Of course, the universe is never kind to me and right before we're about to leave Michael opens the door to my compartment, apparently also looking for his own 'private' area of the train. But since he was one of the last people on the train he didn't get that. He looked at me sheepishly, "Sorry, I'll find somewhere else to sit."
"No stay please." I said, shocking Michael and myself. I can't explain it but I suddenly felt an impulse to talk to Michael. 'This is my last chance to tell him the truth, to tell him everything.' I thought.
Michael looked uncomfortable but complied, closing the door and sitting directly across from me while leaning against the window. It was silent between us to start, which continued even when the train started to 'chug along' as the Brits liked to say.
'You can't back out Nina,' I thought, 'You need to say something.' I couldn't think of anything to say though. Well, I knew what I had to say I just couldn't think of how to say it. I could tell that Michael was struggling with the same thing.
Five, then ten minutes passed and still nothing was said. The snack lady came by and we started to speak with her. She helped diffuse some tension, until she asked if we were a couple. Michael and I quickly ushered the woman out and the tension had returned. 'God why did I ask him to sit with me? You're not strong and now you're not smart either Nina Martin.' That voice said in my head again. For some reason I was now determined to talk to Michael, just to knock that voice out of my head. 'Proud now Charlotte? There's my strength!'
"So," I began, "I saw you and Alan together. Are you guys ok now?"
Michael's expression softened when he heard my voice, but he stayed focused on the moving landscape outside of our window. "Kind of, we're talking now but not like we used to. It's more formal and tense I guess."
'Tense, like us. Right Michael?' that voice said in my head again. The voice sounded familiar and I ignored it even more. "You guys hugged though." I said.
Michael shrugged, "It just seemed like something that was right."
'Something that was right? Ha! Listen to him pandering about right and wrong after what he did to you?' The voice said, now speaking to me as an individual person. I suddenly realized who the voice in my head was, 'Fabian!' I screamed through my mind. 'You can't influence me anymore!'
"Silly right?" Michael asked.
I blinked rapidly, realizing that I had gone silent. "No, I wish I could show that much care for somebody now."
"It wasn't really care though," Michael said, "we don't really have that kind of friendship. If we have any friendship at all."
Fabian was screaming in my head that Michael deserved it, that he ruined everything in my life. 'No Fabian, you ruined everything.' I thought.
"I'm sure Alan will come around. You guys are best friends, you'll work through it." I said. He looked at me for the first time and was about to say something, but stopped himself before he did and turned away from me again.
I was about to continue the conversation when Michael started to talk first. "I'm sorry about what I did. And I'm sorry if it led to your break up with Fabian."
I kept a calm demeanor but I was shocked internally. I thought I was going to have to be the one to bring it up, but Michael beat me to the punch. Now how do I play this? My mind returns to my earlier dilemma of having something to say but knowing how to say it.
"Thank you." I get out after a moment of silence, "though I do have to tell you what you did was stupid."
"I know, I haven't been making a bunch of smart choices recently." Michael said with sadness. I felt for Michael but I wasn't going to indulge him in a pity party. Instead I was going to confess to Michael my heart and soul.
"But it also helped me see things more clearly." I said, giving Michael a small smile. He looked at me confused and I continued to talk. "It made me discover my true feelings and expose Fabian as the lying, backstabbing guy that he is."
Michael looked really confused at that moment, though I couldn't blame him. "Why did you guys break up?" He asked.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," a voice said over the intercom system, "We will be arriving at Heathrow International in ten minutes."
"That isn't important." I said over the speaker system to Michael.
Michael looked annoyed. "No more secrets Nina. You saw what they did this past semester. They ruined everything from friendship, house spirit, to romance.
He was right of course, and I was mad at the world for being full of secrets. 'Your quite the hypocrite aren't you Nina?' Fabian's voice said again in my head. 'Yes Fabian I am.' I thought, 'But I'm still better than you.' So I sucked it up and confessed. "Fabian is the reason I'm in Odin." I said. Michael looked at me surprised and I explained what happened and how we broke up. When I finished Michael was silent and thoughtful.
"So you guys are done now?" Michael asked. I nodded my head and Michael continued, "Do you still feel anything for him?"
"No." I said, though I felt queer when I said it. God I hate feelings and hormones.
Michael nodded again and fell silent, not looking at me again. "Thanks for telling me that. I know I don't really deserve your trust after everything that happened."
I laughed, "Well we have another semester of hell Michael. I might as well try to fix some friendships." Michael looked at me and smiled.
"So are we ok?" Michael asked. I nodded and Michael looked extremely relieved by that. "I'm really happy to hear that." Michael said.
"I'm not done though." I said. Michael again looked nervous and grew even more concerned when I actually sat down next to him smiling. "I said that you made me see things more clearly with Fabian, but you also did it with other things."
Michael's body was tense, waiting for something to go wrong like so many things had this year. "Like what?"
"Like who I actually care about." I said, "Who I truly care about."
Michael's eyes were wide and he was trying to keep himself calm. "Such as?"
I smiled, "Such as you Michael."
It grew silent again and we heard the intercom announce that we would be arriving in five minutes at the airport. Neither of us changed our position though, both of us only staring at each other. Michael relaxed a little bit and his face was red with happiness I think. "How?" he asked.
I had to laugh at that, "That's a complicated one Michael, not going to lie." I said, "But it's mainly because I've like you for a long time. At first… At first I thought it was because I saw you as a replacement for Fabian. Somebody that could act as my Fabian without Fabian actually being around and without making out with me and doing 'couple' stuff." I paused after that, letting that sink in for Michael and mustering up the last of my strength to say the rest of what I had to say, "But then I realized, after you announced to the entire school that you liked me and after I saw what Fabian had done with my boarding that I liked you more than Fabian. I liked you because you are a better than Fabian."
Michael said nothing, smiling himself. "Nina-" he began but I cut him off with a kiss.
Michael was stunned by it, but soon threw himself into the kiss. This kiss was different then Fabian… it felt purer and better. Soon we were past the awkward kissing and now wrapped around each other, Michael's hands moving along my back and I ran my fingers through his hair. Our kissing became quicker and hotter, the passion greater with each touch, our body's growing closer and closer together.
Michael began to move closer and closer to me, so close that I hit the wall and let out a light gasp. Michael began kissing my neck as I giggled happily, running my hands over his body. I noticed the door handle had a lock and I reached out a hand to lock our compartment. Michael looked at me smiling. I smiled back.
"We only have five minutes." I whispered.
Michael moved his lips back up to my face, "I think it's more like four now."
"Then let's make every moment count." I breathed softly into Michael's ear. Michael's hand came up to my face and he brought his lips to mine, continuing our passion. All my problems were forgotten, Fabian slipped from my mind, and everything was consumed by thoughts of Michael. I felt no guilt over what I was doing, Fabian and I were broken up and I felt something greater with Michael than with Fabian. There was still a voice in the back of my heading thinking about Fabian but it was quickly cut down by Michael's kisses.
'Next semester,' I thought, 'Should be very interesting.'
Well, I did not expect for this story to take so long. However I am happy with the final result.
I want to thank all of my readers and reviewers for staying with the story for its long length and for reviewing my work. Your reviews have always empowered me to write and I hope you will stay with me for the sequel to this.
Yes, there will be a sequel! There are some story lines that need to be finished and I plan to do it. The next sequel (the final one too) will probably come out at the end of summer so pay attention for that. You guys can just author alert me if you like, I'd really like that ;).
Anyways, thanks again to all of you for sticking with me and I hope you will continue to do so in the final sequel of this trilogy (it sounds cool calling it that.) I'll probably be going back and updating some previous chapters, fixing grammar mistakes and making the dialogue better, so don't be surprised if you receive some emails about that.
So please REVIEW! And Have a great summer!
Dante